Tightwad Tuesday

There are so many ways to "make do". During the holiday season I really use as many found free items as I can to make the house festive. Candles is one of those items.  I love the scent and soft glow of a candle at the table, on the mantle, in the bathrooms. Its just a nice way to make it cozy.

Have you priced new big scented candles? They have become very pricey! This year I was blessed with a bounty of free slightly used or not used at all candles. When folks move ( especially military) they cannot transport candles. I also have found them very cheap ( a quarter ) at thrift stores and yard sales.

Here is what I do to make them new to me. If the center is burned out of the big ones I place a 25 cent votive in there or place a new wick and paraffin wax. When you light it the wax will melt down and fill up that hole nicely.

I put the big candles in large clear vases that I get for free. Smaller candles go in mason jars. These glass containers can easily be decorated with greenery from your yard ( around the bottom on the outside). Another way to decorate is to fill the jars with colored sand and items of choice. My daughter did one with beautiful colored rocks. I have also decorated with a jar inside a jar and placed beads, ornaments , ect in between the two jars. See through stuff works best and makes a pretty shimmer. Placing a mirror under your jar or vase will make the candle light seem brighter.

You can rescent your candles. When you blow out the candle and the wax is still liquid add a few drops of your favorite essenial oil.

When the candle is clearly at the end of its life ( no longer safe to burn because the walls are thin or it is to the botton of its wick with no room to add more wax) Save it! Reuse the wax to make more candles such as the ones Mary makes. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/

Be safe. Trim the wicks each time to 1/4 th inch. Watch for holes in the walls of the candles. The wax will run out and ignight the whole candle. Never leave them unattended.

Here are some sites for learning how to make thrifty candles. Candles make great gifts!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-the-Most-from-Your-Old-Candles

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/28713-making-new-candles-from-old

http://crafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/candle_making  

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74861839.tip.html

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/candles.html

http://www.envocare.co.uk/candle_making.htm

http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/buildmodel/feature/famf28candle/famf28candle.html

 http://www.justmommies.com/articles/candle-projects.shtml

 Sorry that I do not have any photos to share. Our camera is currently out of order.